Improvement in automatic feeders for furnaces



E. F. LITTLEPAGE.

AUTOMATIC FEEDERS FOR FURNACES.

No.188,647. Patented March 20,1877.

W M g UNITED PATENT QFFIGE.

EUROPE F. LITTLEPAGE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

rlMRROVEM-ENT l-N AUTOMATIC FEED-ERS FOR FURNACES.

-Speoificationforming-part of Letters Patent No. 188,647, dated March20, 1877 application filed January 12, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EUROPE F. LITTLE- PAG E,of the city and county of Los Angeles, and 'State of California, havein-ventedcertain new and useful Improvements in the Method of FeedingFurnaces, and in certain means of shaking and operating the grates; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexactdescription thereof,which will enable others skilled in the art to whichit ap- "pertains 'to'ma'ke and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawingsyand to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention is applicable to a variety of boiler-furnaces, and may beapplied to all coal-furnaces, but preferably to the locomotive type, towhich the description will in this case be mainly confined; and theobjects are, first, to provide an automatic feeder or s-toker, by whichthe fuel is fed evenly and regularly over the grate-surface at theoption of the-engineer; second, to produce a nearly perfect combustionby the introduction of the proper supply of fuel and atmospheric air;third, to provide means for shaking, elevating, and locating the feed orfi-re bars, either longitudinallyor laterally,in ahorizontal position;and,

fourth, to dispose of the fuel in such a manner that nearly all thecombustible gases will be consumed, thereby preventing smoke, andsecuring an economy of fuel.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a top view, and a front and sideelevation in perspective, showing the fuel-carrying device inside thecase in position, the top of the case being removed; alsothe feeders orfire-bars projecting from the front piece F, said piece "forming thefront of the furnace, the remaining portion of the furnace not beingshown. The operating ratchet cam-wheel O is also shown on the side ofthe case in position.

Fig. 2 illustrates a vertical cross-section on the line was, Fig.l,'showi-ng the lifters and spiral springs, the lifters being providedwith apertures for the-reception of the feed or fire 'bars with theendsof said bars in location. Fig. 3 is a detached end view of the slide,which works longitudinally under the feeder, also showingthecommoncross-head, to which the ends of all the feeders or fire-bars arepivoted, and also the laterally-sliding link attached to thelongitudinal slide, so that the bars and head may be moved horizontallyright and left, and forward and back, as desired. Fig. 4 represents adetached view of the feed or fire bars pivoted to the cross-head, withthe operating lever and slide attached; and Fig. 5 shows one of thetripping-toes by which the toothed cam-Wheel operates the liftersvertically against the resistance of the springs by which the bars orfeeders are verticall moved.

It is well known that in feeding furnaces in the old way, the fuel isthrown into the furnace by shovelfuls, and very often in the same place,thus leaving large spaces without any fuel on the grate-surface, throughwhich the cold air rushes, and which produces a cooling or chillingefi'ect upon the plate-surface of the boiler, and also on the gasesevolved from the fuel, and by reason of this chilling effect they arecarried off unconsumed. To avoid and remedy this defect is the object ofthe first feature of my invention, which consists in automaticallyfeeding coal or any other short or pulverized fuel over an endless sheetof iron plate sufficiently ductile or flexible to pass over and underrollers, whereby the fuel is carried from the tender or place of supplyto within the front of the furnace. and there delivered on the bars orfeeders, by which it is evenly spread on any portion of the gratesurfacedesired. This endless sheet may or may not be perforated.

The thickness of the layer of fuel upon the grate may be regulatedaccording to the kind used, and may be introduced by my device throughthe ordinary doorway of the furnace; or an opening may be providedbelow, and in such a manner that the requisite quantity of atmosphericair is admitted, so as to unite and mingle with the gases evolved fromthe fuel, such as carbonic-oxide, carbureted-hydrogen, and other gases,whereby a high and regular degree of temperature is maintained. Also,the great danger of sudden contraction and expansion of theboiler-sheets is avoided, thereby preserving the boiler seams, rivets,and joints from the sudden contraction and expansion caused by thefrequent opening of the furnace-door.

The second feature of my invention consists in the arrangement of myfeeders or fire-bars. These bars receive the coal from the feedingplate,and may be turned to feed any part in the combustion-chamber orfire-box, and may project to the inner end of the same, or may bewithdrawn to the front, and are capable of shaking the fuel rapidly onthe grate, and continually or at intervals, without opening the doors ofthe furnace, and may be operated" by the running-gear of the engine.These bars may be used as grate-bars, or used only for the purpose offeeding.

As before stated, the fuel is evenly distributed upon the grate-surface,but may be a little thicker toward the bridge-wall. Ignition then takesplace, and a volume of coal-gas arises. In the combustion of coal-gas,flames are caused by the union of the hydrogen with the oxygen of theatmosphere, and the heat produced is intense, raising the carbon to astate of incandescence and luminosity. Without the carbon there would beno light, and this luminosity and incandescence are the re sult of thathigh temperature which is essential to its own combustion or chemicalunion with oxygen.

Let this fact, then, be borne in mind, as it indicates the cardinalpoint of the whole process in my furnaces-viz., that it is not thecombustion of the gas. but the combustion of the gas mixed with air,that produces the heat, and this mixture must be maintained in therequisite quantities and at a high temperature, which cannot be done ifthe furnace-door is open at intervals, thereby admitting cold air,reducing the temperature, and destroying the flame. By my contrivancethe door is rarely opened, the air is admitted in equal and requisitequantities, causing a chemical union of the elements necessary tosupport combustion, by which nearly a perfect combustion ensues. Theinterstices between the lifters may be made to allow the proper supplyof air over the fire to mix with the gases evolved without admitting alarge volume of cold air to pass immediately between the flame andcrownsheet of the boiler, as is the case when the furnace-door isopened.

Referring to the annexed drawings, B represents the case in which thecarrying-teed apparatus is located. A denotes the metallic flexibleendless plate, which, in this case, is perforated, but may be made ofstrips or an endless chain, laid in close contact side by side, or ofcoarse wire-netting. This metallic sheet or plate runs upon rollers E,by which it is moved forward with its load of fuel and dumped upon thefeeders or fire-bars. Between this sheet is also placed, near thefurnace end, another roller, the axis of which projects some distanceoutside of each side of the case, and is denoted by the letter D. Up-

on each of these projections or spindles is placed a toothed cam-wheel,G. the teeth, as they revolve, coming in contact with a tripping-toe, G,which is rigidly fastened to the lifter-head E, to which the lifters arealso attached. When the cam -wheel 0 revolves, each cam-tooth clutchesonto the tripping-toe G, and bears down the head E, (see Fig. 5,) andthe lifters with it, and also the fire-bars, which work through oblongholes made in said lifters against the tension of the springs B, sothat, upon the escape of the cam-tooth from the trip-toe, the head,lifters, and bars fly back with a quick movement, thus shaking orpitching the coal or fuel on the fire-bars forward or sidewise, as thebars may be directed.

At the outer end of these bars a is located a head, b, (see Fig. 4,)into which the end of each bar is pivoted. This head b is suspended fromthe bottom of case B by means of a swivel or link,f, running through twoeyebolts, (see Fig. 3,) by which it iscapable of movement one side orthe other, and by which the front ends of the bars are directed toeither side, or any point in the furnace, and thereby deliver the fuelat that point. This head is also capable of sliding longitudinally, and,of course, taking the bars with it, as before stated. These bars runthrough holes in the lifters. Said lifters turn vertically on pivots,thus allowing or accommodating said bars to point to any desirabledirection, or to be raised and lowered simultaneously with right or leftmotion, as may be desired.

While I am aware that automatic stokers have been heretofore used, I amnot aware that any have been constructed like mine, embodying the samefunction. I do not, therefore, desire to confine myself to the exactconstruction presented, as many other forms may be used withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

Having now fully described my invention, and the mode of operating thesame, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the flexible endless feeding apparatus with thepivoted feeders or fire-bars, arranged and operating substantially asherein described.

2. The combination of the pivoted bars, the head b, and the lifters A,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the cam-wheel having one or more cams, thetripping-toe G, and the spring-lifters with the pivoted bars a, as setforth.

4. The combination of the head b, pivoted bars a, and links f, by whichsaid bars are given a right-and-left motion, as and for the purposespecified.

5. The combination of the head b, pivoted bars a, and links f, with thelifters and camwheel, by which the bars are given an oscillating motionand a vertical motion, either independently or together, substantiallyas described, and for the purpose set forth.

ranged to automatically feed a furnace, substantially as described, andfor the purpose specified.

E. F. LITTLEPAGE. Witnesses:

J. J. MAXWELL, A. A. WILSON.

